On 21 March, communities around the world mark World Down Syndrome Day, a global occasion to celebrate people with Down syndrome while raising awareness of the issues that affect their lives. The date symbolises the triplication of chromosome 21 — the genetic difference that causes Down syndrome.
This year’s theme, #TogetherAgainstLoneliness, highlights the importance of connection, inclusion and support. For Churchill Fellow Madeleine Healey (2023), the theme strongly reflects her work addressing a critical and often overlooked health inequity for people with Down syndrome: access to appropriate dementia diagnosis and care.
Through her Churchill Fellowship, Madeleine investigated international best practice in the diagnosis, management and support of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome. As life expectancy for this community continues to increase, the need for specialised dementia services is becoming more urgent. People with Down syndrome face a significantly higher risk of developing young‑onset Alzheimer’s disease, yet access to tailored diagnostic pathways and ongoing support remains limited in Australia.
During her Fellowship, Madeleine visited leading Down syndrome memory clinics across the United Kingdom, United States and Europe, examining how specialist services support individuals and families through diagnosis, care planning and ageing. Since returning to Australia, she has worked closely with Down Syndrome Victoria and Down Syndrome Australia to help establish Australia’s first Down Syndrome Brain Health Service at Monash Health in Melbourne — addressing a long‑standing service gap.
This work has been supported by a Monash Health Emerging Researcher Fellowship, an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship and a Dementia Australia Fellowship. Madeleine hopes to see the service become permanent and to collaborate with interstate colleagues to build a national network, ensuring Australians with Down syndrome receive timely, equitable access to dementia diagnosis and support.
Today we recognise Fellows like Madeleine, whose work is creating more inclusive and equitable health systems — ensuring no one is left behind.
